Hatch covers having hydraulic means for moving the sections



B. R. LARSSON HATCH COVERS HAVING HYDRAULIC MEANS FOR MOVING THE SECTIONS Filed Oct. 3, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 RN NN MN a Fm INVENTOR WKW fizz 1- 0d. 22, 1963 sso 3,107,722 I HATCH COVERS HAVING HYDRAULIC MEANS FOR MOVING THE SECTIONS Filed Oct. 3, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 22, 1963 B. R. LARSSON I 3,107,722

HATCH COVERS HAVING HYDRAULIC mus FOR MOVING THE SECTIONS Filed Oct. 5, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet s JNVENTUR law flwlm,

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United States Patent 3,107,722 HATCH COVERS HAVHNG HYDRAULIC MEANS FOR MOVING THE SECTIGN Bert R. Larsson, Goteborg, Sweden, assignor to Von Tell Trading Co. AB, Goteborg, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Oct. 3, 1961, Ser- No. 142,569 Claims priority, application Sweden Oct. 4, 1960 Claims. (Cl. 160-188) This invention has reference to a device at hatch covers to be used especially on ships, said hatch covers comprising at least three cover sections being hinged to each other, one of said sections by means of a pivot shaft being connected to the hatch coaming and the section situated next to said pivot shaftdenoted the first sectionand the adjacent sectiondenoted the second section-being folda'ble to a position in which their undersides are turned towards each other and the next section-denoted the third sectionin folded position being situated with its upper side turned against the upper side of the second section. The device includes means for folding the first and the second sections against each other and hydraulic means comprising a piston and a cylinder which is swing ably journalled in the hatch coaming or in said third cover section, said hydraulic means adapted to fold said third section against said second section.

In a known construction of this kind the hydraulic means comprises hydraulically driven revolving pistons at the hinge joints between the cover sections which is to be considered as a complicated and expensive construction. In some cases it is very difiicult to obtain an acceptable tightening.

In another known construction there is in each one of the cover sections arranged a cylinder having one end svvingably journalled on the underside of the section, a piston being axially movable in said cylinder and having its free end journalled to a triangular link which at one of its triangle points pivots about the hinge interconnecting the sections in question. Also this construction is rather expensive inter alia due to the required great number of cylinders. The construction is further complicated as the space at the hinge between two adjacent cover sections is rather limited while a rather high pressure of the driving medium is required.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks recited here above. The main feature of the invention is that the piston serving for folding the third section is connected to a piston rod which at the end of the movement for folding the first and second sections is brought to engage a fitting on the third cover section or the hatch coa-ming, said fitting situated in such a way relatively to the pivot joint or the cylinder and the hinge joint between the second and third sections in such a way that at the forcing out of the piston rod from the cylinder a moment is created which causes a folding of the third section. In case a fourth section is jou-rn-aled to the third section, this fourth section is folded together with the third section. It is advisable to journal the cylinder on the hatch coaming and to arrange the fitting on the underside of the third cover section. The fitting shall be ar ranged and shaped in such a way that the free end of the piston rod automatically engages a notch in the fitting opening downwards when the first and second sections are completely folded.

However, it is also possible to journal the cylinder on the third section and to arrange the fitting on the hatch coarning.

An example of a device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the 'accom panying partly diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a partly broken vertical and longitudinal 3,107,722 Patented Oct. 22., 1963 section through a hatch cover according to the invention, the first and second cover sections being in folded posi tion and the third and fourth sections in unfolded position,

FIG. 2 shows a similar section with all sections in folded position,

FIG. 3 shows a similar vertical section as in FIG. 1 but according to an embodiment in which the cylinder is carried on the third section and the fitting is arranged on the coaming,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fitting in FIG. 3 together with the free end of the cylinder and the piston.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the coaming around the hatch way which is at least partly covered by a cover compris ing four sections, 2, 3, 4, 5. Section 2 Will in the following be referred to as the first section, section 3 as the second section, section 4 as the third section and section 5 as the fourth section. These sections are interconnected by means of hinges 6, 7, 8. The first section 2 is also connected to the hatch coarning 1 by means of a pivot shaft 9 extending thwart-ships. The sections 4 and 5 are provided with rollers 1t) and 11 adapted to roll on the upper side of the hatch coaming 1 at the folding and unfolding of the sections. Bias rolling planes 12 are arranged on the end of the hatch coaming 1 adjacent the pivot shaft 9, said planes 12 facilitating the unfolding of the sections as the rollers 11 can roll down them.

I-Iyd-raulically driven pistons which are axially movable in cylinders and serve for folding the cover sections 2, 3, 4 and 5. The pistons related-to the cover sections 4 and 5 are arranged on either side of the hatch way. In the following only -the means on one side will be described but it is to be understood that corresponding means are arranged on the opposite side of the hatch way.

A piston cylinder 14 is pivoted about a horizontal shaft 13 and is with its two ends connected to an hydraulic power source (not shown). A piston 15 is axially movable in the cylinder 14 and a bolt 16 journals the free end of this piston 15 to the first cover section 2 on the under side of this section. The pivot shafts 9 and 13 are arranged at some distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the hatch way such that the piston 15 can act with a certain moment on the cover section 2.

The cover is provided with a catch 17 for locking the section 3 releasably to the section 2 when the latter is completely folded.

One end of a piston cylinder 20 is journalled about a pivot shaft 19 in a box-shaped notch 18 in the coarning 1.

- The cylinder 20 is connected to the hydraulic power source and a piston is axially movable in the cylinder 20'. The piston rod 21 of said piston is at its free end provided with a cylindrical cross piece 22. The third section 4 has on its underside a fitting 23 with a notch 24 opening downwards and adapted to house the cross piece 22. The fitting 23 has a downwards directed branch 25 serving in a manner to be described further below for guiding the cross piece 22 into the notch 24 when the third section 4 takes the position in FIG. 1. A catch 27 is pivoted about a bolt 26 on the fitting 23 and is provide-d with a hook 28 which at a swingingof the arm 27 in clockwise direction from the position inFIG. 1 engages the notch 24 and blocks its open-ing (FIG. 2). The catch 27 carries on its free end a roller 29 "which is adapted to cooperate with a bias surface 39 on a lifting abutment on the coaming 1. i

The described device acts in the following way, the description of the action following the movements at opening up of the cover from the completely closed position. When pressure medium is fed into the lower end of the cylinder 14 at 32 in FIG. 1, the piston 15 is pressed out of the cylinder 14 and the cover sections 2 and 3am folded upwards according to the position in FIG. 1. When both sections 2 and 3 are completely folded, the catch 17 is automatically brought to action and keeps these sections in folded position with the undersides turned towards each other. When the sections 2 and 3 are "folded, the cover sections 4 and S are simultaneously moved on the coaming 1 while being carried by the rollers 18, 11. When at the end of this movement the branch 25 reaches the cross piece 22 on the piston rod 21, the piece 22 is forced by the branch 25 up into the notch 24 (see the position indicated by unbroken lines in FIG. 1). The downwards directed opening has in this position been freed by the hook 28 thereby that the roller 29 has rolled up on the abutment 31 and has thus turned the catch 27 in counterclockwise direction. When thereupon pressure medium is fed into the lower end of the cylinder 2% at 33 in FIG. 1, the piston rod 21 is moved out of the cylinder (to the right according to FIG. 1) and due to the fact that the pivot shaft 19 is somewhat laterally displaced relatively to the hinge 7 which now, due to the catch 17, is in locked position a torque is acted against the third sec-tion 4 and swings this section and the fourth section up to the position in FIG. 2. At the end of the folding movement the fourth section 5 is carried by the roller 11 running up the rolling plane 12.

At the closing of the cover, pressure medium is fed to the cylinder 2% at 34 in FIG. 2 whereas the piston rod 21 is pressed into the cylinder. The catch 27 with its hook 253 then prevents the cross piece 22 to leave the notch 24. The cover sections 4 and S are thus slowly rnoved back to their initial position whereas the roller 11 runs down the rolling plane 12. At the end of the unfolding movement of the third section 4 the catching arm hits with its roller 24 against the abutment 31 and swings thereby the lever in counter-clockwise direction relatively to the litting 23, the abutment 28 then giving the opening of the notch 28 completely free. The cross piece 22 now leaves the notch and the piston rod 21 with the cylinder 2% thereupon takes the position shown in FIG. 1 with dash and dot lines. The sections 4 and 5 are now freed from the piston rod 21. Finally, the catch 17 is brought out of engagement and pressure medium is fed to the cylinder 14 at 35 (FIG. 2) and the sections 2 and 3 can then be unfolded.

Due to the fact that the cylinders 14 and 2d are journalled on the coarning 1 it is easy to connect them to the required pressure conduits which can be arranged in the coaming 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is also possible to journal the cylinder 2-0 about a pivot shaft 19' on the third cover section 4 and to arrange the fitting 23 in the box-shaped notch 18 in the coaming 1. The cylindrical cross piece 22 has a bevelled surface 36 extending in its longitudinal direction. So as to prevent the cross piece 22 on the piston rod 21' to undeliberately leave its bearing in the fitting 23 which according to FIG. 4 comprises two parallel rails 37 arranged at some distance from each other, the fitting (the rails 37) has at the inner end of the notch 24' an enlarged portion 33 for housing the cross piece 22 while the cross piece at its open end has a height 33 somewhat exceeding the smallest cross dimension 40 of the cross piece 22'. The bevelled surface 38 is situated in such a way that the cross piece 22' can be extracted from the notch 24' in the fitting 23' only when the cylinder 20' with a piston rod 21' takes the position in FIG. 3, i.e. when the cover sections 4, 5 are lowered onto the coaming 1.

It is obvious from FIGS. 3 and 4 that pressure medium fed to the cylinder 20' at 41 moves said cylinder axially relatively to the piston rod 21 obliquely upwards to the right according to FIG. 3 whereby the third section 4 is swung in counter-clockwise direction upwards about the hinge 7 bringing along the fourth section 5 in the folding movement. It is further obvious from FIG. 3 that when the sections are in the position shown in this figure and when pressure medium is fed to the cylinder 14 at 35 upon release of the catch 17 the cover sections 2 and 3 are lowered onto the hatch coaming 1 by means of the movement of the piston 15 in the cylinder 14. During this movement the cross piece 22' leaves the notch 24 in the fitting 23' and slides thereupon to the right upwards on the bias plane 42 of the rails 37 extending towards the upper side of the coarning 1.

In this embodiment it is necessary to arrange pressure medium conduits to the cylinder 20 from the third sec tion 4 via the sections 3 and 2 and via the hinges 7 and 6 to the pressure medium source on or under the deck.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise except as defined in the appended claims. Thus, different parts of the hatch cover and the hatch coaming 1 can be constructively varied in many ways within the scope of the invention. This is the case especially with regard to the shape of the fitting 23 and the free end of the piston rod 21 cooperating with the fitting 23. Also other catches than the one denoted 17 shown in the drawings can be used for maintaining the second cover section 3 in folded position. The invention can be carried into effect also on covers having only three sections. However, it can also be used at covers having more thanfour cover sections. In covers having for instance six cover sections one must, when using the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, provide a fitting 23 also on the fifth sec-tion and in the notch of said fitting 23 there is movable the free end of a piston which is movable in a cylinder, the latter being journalled on the coarning 1 somewhat to the right of the cylinder 20 shown on the drawings.

What I claim is:

1. In a hatch cover comprising at least three cover sections interconnected by means of hinges, one of said sections, denoted the first section, by means of a pivot'shaft connected to the hatch coaming, and the section, denoted the second section, neighbouring said first section, being foldable to a position in which their undersides are turned towards each other and the next section, denoted the third section, in folded position situated with its upper side turned against the upper side of said second section, the device including means for folding said first and second sections and hydraulic means comprising a piston and a cylinder journalled 'on the hatch coaming for folding said third section against said second section, a piston rod connected to said piston adapted at the end of the folding movement of said first and second sections to be brought to engagement with a fitting attached to said third cover section, said fitting situated relatively to the pivot of the cylinder and the hinge between said second and third sections in such a way that a forcing of said piston rods out of the cylinder creates a moment causing the folding of said third section.

2. In a hatch cover comprising at least three cover sections interconnected by means of hinges, one of said sections, denoted the first section, by means of a pivot shaft connected to the hatch coaming, and the section, denoted the second section, neighbouring said first section, being foldable to a position in which their undersides are turned towards each other and the next section, denoted the third section, in folded position situated with its upper side turned against the upper side of said second section, the device including means for folding said first and second sections and hydraulic means comprising a piston and a cylinder journalled on the hatch coaming for folding said third section against said second section, a piston rod con-.

nected to said piston adapted at the end of the folding movement of said first and second sections to bebrought to engagement with a fitting attached to said third cover section, said fittings situated relatively to the pivot of the cylinder and the hinge between said second and third sec-: tions in such a way that a forcing of said piston rods out of the cylinder creates a moment causing the folding of said third section, said fitting having a downwards opening notch adapted to house a cross piece on the free end of said piston rod at the movement of said third section on the coaming during the folding of said first and second sections.

3. In a hatch cover comprising at least three cover section interconnected by means of hinges, one of said sections, denoted the first section by means of a pivot shaft connected to the hatch coan ing, and the section, denoted the second section, neighbouring said first section, being foldable to a position in which their undersides are turned towards each other and the next section, denoted the third section, in folded position situated with its upper side turned against the upper side of said second section, the device including means for folding said first and second sections and hydraulic means comprising a piston and a cylinder journalled on the hatch coaming for folding said third section against said second section, a piston rod connected to said piston adapted at the end of the folding movement of said first and second sections to be brought to engagement with a fitting attached to said third cover section, said fitting situated relatively to the pivot of the cylinder and the hinge between said second and third sections in such a way that a forcing of said piston rods out of the cylinder creates a moment causing the folding of said third section, said fitting having a down- Wards opening notch adapted to house a cross piece on the free end of said piston rod at the movement of said third section on the coaming during the folding of said first and second sections, said fitting having a catch to be lowered in front of the open end of said notch, said catch having a hook for preventing the free end of said piston rod to leave the notch during the folding movements of said third section.

4. In a hatch cover comprising at least three cover sections interconnected by means of hinges, one of said sections, denoted the first section, by means of a pivot shaft connected to the hatch coaming, and the section, denoted the second section, neighbouring said first section, being foldable to a position in which their undersides are turned towards each other and the next section, denoted the third section, in folded position situated with its upper side turned against the upper side of said second section, the device including means for folding said first and second sections and hydraulic means comprising a piston and a cylinder journalled on the hatch coaming for folding said third section against said second section, a piston rod connected to said piston adapted at the end of the folding movement of said first and second sections to be brought to engagement with a fitting attached to said third cover section, said fitting situated relatively to the pivot of the cylinder and the hinge between said second and third sections in such a way that a forcing of said piston rods out of the cylinder creates a moment causing the folding of said third section, said fitting having a downwards opening notch adapted to house a cross piece on the free end of said piston rod at the movement of said third section on the coaming during the folding of said first and second sections, said fitting having a catch to be lowered in front of the open end of said notch, said catch having a hook for preventing the free end of said piston rod to leave the notch during the folding movements of said third section, said catch at the lowering of said third section onto said hatch coaming capable to be swung to a position in which the open end of said notch is free.

5. In a hatch cover comprising at least three cover sections interconnected by means of hinges, one of said sections, denoted the first section, by means of a pivot shaft connected to the hatch coaming, and the section, denoted the second section, neighbouring said first section, being foldable to a position in which their undersides are turned towards each other and the next section, denoted the third section, in folded position situated with its upper side turned against the upper side of said second section, the device including means for folding said first and second sections and hydraulic means comprising a piston and a cylinder journalled on the hatch coaming for folding said third section against said second section, a piston rod connected to said piston adapted at the end of the folding movement of said first and second sections to be brought to engagement with a fitting attached to said third cover section, said fitting situated relatively to the pivot of the cylinder and the hinge between said second and third sections in such a way that a forcing of said piston rods out of the cylinder creates a moment causing the folding of said third section, said fitting having a downwards opening notch adapted to house a cross piece on the free end of said piston rod at the movement of said third section on the coaming during the folding of said first and second sections, said fitting having a branch extending beyond the open end of said notch, said branch guiding the free end of said piston rod into said notch.

6. In a hatch cover comprising at least three cover sections interconnected by means of hinges, one of said sections, denoted the first section, by means of a pivot shaft connected to the coaming, and the section, denoted the second section, neighbouring said first section, being foldable to a position in which their undersides are turned towards each other and the next section, denoted that third section, in folded position situated with is upper side turned against the upper side of said second section, the device including means for folding said first and second sections and hydraulic means comprising a piston and a cylinder journalled on said third cover section for folding said third section against said second section, a piston rod connected to said piston adapted at the end of the folding movement of said first and second sections to be brought to engagement with a fitting attached to said hatch coaming, said fitting situated relatively to the pivot of said cylinder and the hinge between said second and third sections in such a way that a forcing of said piston rods out of the cylinder creates a moment causing the folding of said third section.

7. In a hatch cover comprising at least three cover sections interconnected by means of hinges, one of said sections, denoted the first section,- by means of a pivot shaft connected to the hatch coaming, and the section, denoted the second section, neighbouring said first section, being foldable to a position in which their undersides are turned towards each other and the next section, denoted the third section, in folded position situated with its upper side turned against the upper side of said second section, the device including means for fold-ing said first and second sections and hydraulic means comprising a piston and a cylinder journalled on said third cover section for folding said third section against said second section, a piston rod connected to said piston adapted at the end of the folding movement of said first and second sections to be brought to engagement with a fitting attached to said hatch coaming, said fitting situated relatively to the pivot of said cylinder and the hinge between said second and third sections in such a way that a forcing of said piston rods out of the cylinder creates a moment causing the folding of said third section, said fitting having a notch adapted to house a cross piece on the free end of said piston rod at the movement of said third section on the coaming during the folding of said first and second sections.

8. In a hatch cover comprising at least three cover sections interconnected by means of hinges, one of said sections, denoted the first section, by means of a pivot shaft connected to the hatch coaming, and the section, denoted the second section, neighbouring said first section, being fo-ldable to a position in which their undersides are turned towards each other and the next section, denoted the third section, in folded position situated with its upper side turned against the upper side of said second section, the device including means for folding said first and second sections and hydraulic means comprising a piston and a cylinder journalled on said third cover section for folding said third section against said second section, a piston rod connected to said piston adapted at the end of the folding movement of said first and second sections to be brought to engagement with a fitting attached to said hatch coarning, said fitting situated relatively to the pivot of said cylinder and the hinge between said second and third sections in such a way that a forcing of said piston rods out of the cylinder creates a moment causing the folding of said third section, said fitting having a notch adapted to house a cross piece on the free end of said piston rod at the movement of said third section on the coaming during the folding of said first and second sections, said notch in said fitting having a circular, enlarged portion for housing said cross piece on said piston rod, the latter being cylindrical and having a longitudinal, bevelled surface, the dimensions of the end of the notch only slightly exceeding the smallest dimensions of said cross piece.

9. In a hatch cover comprising at least three cover sections interconnected by means of hinges, one of said sections, denoted the first section, by means of a pivot shaft connected to the hatch coaming, and the section, denoted the second section, neighbouring said first section, being foldable to a position in which their undersides are turned towards each other and the next section, denoted the third section, in folded position situated with its upper side turned against the upper side of said second section, the device including means for folding said first and second sections and hydraulic means comprising a piston and a cylinder journalled on said third cover section for holding said third section against said second section, a piston rod connected to said piston adapted at the end of'the folding movement of said first and second sectionsto be brought to engagement with a fitting attached to said hatch coaming, said fitting situated relatively to the pivot of said cylinder and the hinge between said second and third sections in such a Way that a forcing of said piston rods out of the cylinder creates a moment causing the folding of said third sec tion, said fitting having a notch adapted to house a cross piece on the free end of said piston rod at the movement of said third section on the coaming during the folding of said first and second sections, said notch in said fitting ha -'ing a circular, enlarged portion for housing said cross piece on said piston rod, the latter being cylindrical and having a longitudinal, bevelled surface, the dimensions of the end of the notch only slightly exceeding the smallest dimensions of said cross piece, said notch in sm'd fitting open in the direction away from the pivot between said first section and said coaniing.

No references cited. 

1. IN A HATCH COVER COMPRISING AT LEAST THREE COVER SECTIONS INTERCONNECTED BY MEANS OF HINGES, ONE OF SAID SECTIONS, DENOTED THE FIRST SECTION, BY MEANS OF A PIVOT SHAFT CONNECTED TO THE HATCH COAMING, AND THE SECTION, DENOTED THE SECTION, NEIGHBOURING SAID FIRST SECTION, BEING FOLDABLE TO A POSITION IN WHICH THEIR UNDERSIDES ARE TURNED TOWARDS EACH OTHER AND THE NEXT SECTION, DENOTED THE THIRD SECTION, IN FOLDED POSITION SITUATED WITH ITS UPPER SIDE TURNED AGAINST THE UPPER SIDE OF SAID SECOND SECTION, THE DEVICE INCLUDING MEANS FOR FOLDING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS AND HYDRAULIC MEANS COMPRISING A PISTON AND A CYLINDER JOURNALLED ON THE HATCH COAMING FOR FOLDING SAID THIRD SECTION AGAINST SAID SECTION, A PISTON ROD CONNECTED TO SAID PISTON ADAPTED AT THE END OF THE FOLDING MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS TO BE BROUGHT TO ENGAGEMENT WITH A FITTING ATTACHED TO SAID THIRD COVER SECTION, SAID FITTING SITUATED RELATIVELY TO THE PIVOT OF THE 